HEDGEROW TREES AND HEDGES 237 



have a clause, in favour of the landlord, that 

 the hedgerows should contain not less than a 

 certain number of standard trees; but one 

 of the effects of the fall in the agricultural 

 value of land has been that for some ten 

 years back, or more, a change of this clause 

 has been made, in favour of the farmer this 

 time, that not more than a certain number 

 of trees may be retained as hedgerow timber. 

 It is the luxury of the great landowners, freely 

 enjoyed by the nation at large ; but it is not eco- 

 nomical or consistent with the best utilisation of 

 arable or pasture land. To forestall loud censure 

 for this opinion, subversive of the existing order 

 of things, I would seek shelter under so well 

 known an authority on Agriculture as the editor 

 of the last edition of Stephen's Book of the Farm 

 (Div. v. p. 219); and he likewise fortifies his 

 opinion by quoting, with approval, from Lord 

 Kames, that ' To plant trees in the line of a 

 hedge, or within a few feet of it, ought to be 

 absolutely prohibited as a pernicious practice.' 



It would certainly be a national calamity for 

 the lover of beautiful scenery if agricultural 

 improvement could ever go so far as to efface 



